Unveiling the cardiovascular mechanisms of Dittrichia viscosa (L.) Greuter: from folk remedies to experimental evidence

The objective of this research was to evaluate the possible blood pressure-lowering activity of the aqueous extract from the aerial parts of Dittrichia viscosa (L.) (AEDV) in rats with induced hypertension. This research investigated the short- and long-term effects of AEDV administration on hemodynamic parameters, including systolic (SBP), mean (MBP), and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), as well as heart rate (HR), in both normotensive and L-NAME–induced hypertensive rats. Moreover, the vasodilatory activity of AEDV was examined in isolated rat aortic rings with an intact endothelium, which had been preconstricted with epinephrine (EP). To further elucidate the mechanisms underlying this vascular relaxation, five specific pharmacological antagonists and inhibitors were employed. The findings revealed that daily oral administration of AEDV at doses of 100 or 200 mg/kg produced a significant reduction in systolic blood pressure (SBP) in hypertensive rats, without inducing any notable alteration in HR. In addition, AEDV at concentrations ranging from 0.05 to 0.25 mg/mL exhibited a dose-dependent vasodilatory response in thoracic aortic rings precontracted with EP (10 µM). This relaxant effect was attenuated in the presence of indomethacin, suggesting that prostacyclin-dependent mechanisms may be involved in mediating the vascular relaxation induced by AEDV. Overall, these findings suggest that D. viscosa has potential as a natural antihypertensive agent, and further research may be warranted to explore its therapeutic potential.